~ Beautiful Disaster ~ Chapter 9
I wasn't actually going to upload today . . . but then I was like okay, it's Christmas. Well, not yet. So early Christmas present. Or whatever you celebrate present. Yeah . . . just yeah. I don't even know if anyone actually reads these things. There's kinda a lot of dialogue in this chapter. It's hard with so many characters that have to interact. But the next one is very action packed, don't worry. Thank you for all your reviews "D. I already know the paternity, but you're going to have to wait until the end to find out *laughs evilly*. Well, actually not the very end. It's pretty hard to give you any clues without giving it away, so you're just going to have to wait and see. And . . . I'm done rambling.
Yeeeeeah I don't own it. Whatev.
"Addison! Good morning." Richard said as she stepped into his office. She crossed her arms and walked over. She fiddled with the sleeve of her scrubs. "And it's sunny today! See, Seattle really isn't that bad. You should come back."
"Actually, Richard, yeah, I'm, um, thinking about moving back here."
Richard froze for a split second before he smiled. "I was bargaining on that being a lot harder. I had a whole speech prepared, and I had an excellent offer with a pay raise all worked out. Now, though . . ."
"I still want that pay raise, Richard. I'm going to need more time off, too."
"Okay, fine, Addie. I just want you back here." Richard looked like a delighted child, and Addison tried to smile with him. She needed to make sure he was sure, especially with the baby coming. "I know you, Addison, and there's something you're not saying. And by the way, since when have you ever wanted more time off? You practically live in the hospital sometimes, we all do."
Addison bit her lip. "Well, I'm assuming you're going to want me to spend time with your grandchild."
"What?" Richard asked. "Addie, you're pregnant?"
She nodded, and laughed and cried at the same time when he hugged her. "You and Adele are going to be great grandparents," she said. He noticed she was crying and pulled back.
"Addison, what's the matter?" Addison opened her mouth to tell him about the father issue and the fact that she would be raising this child as a single mother, but she couldn't get the words out.
After minutes of unsuccessfully trying to calm her down, Richard called Adele.
Adele walked in with Chinese food and a confused expression. "Addison, sweetheart, whatever is the matter?" She set the food down and pulled Addison into a hug.
When Addison didn't answer, Richard couldn't contain himself any longer. "We're going to be grandparents!" he said excitedly.
"Really?" Adele asked Addison, brushing some of her bright hair off her face. Addison nodded. "What's the matter, then, sugar?"
"I'm all alone, Adele. I'm going to raise this child alone and I'm scared. And I don't know who the father is. And . . . based on my hormone levels, there's a possibility that there is more than one baby."
"Addison, you listen to me. You are not raising this baby alone. You have a family here, at this hospital, who will help you. People care about you. Whether it's one baby or six babies, we'll all help you. And you have people in New York and LA too. You're not alone. As for the father issue . . . well . . . please tell me at least have some idea who it could be."
Addison sighed and said, "Well, it's either Mark's . . . or Derek's." Adele's mouth fell open and Richard put his head in his hands. Addison thought for a minute and said, "Richard, before I officially start working here again . . . well, I think I'm going to go back to New York for a while. Just to visit, and um, think about some things."
He sighed too. "Take whatever time you need, Addie."
"Chief, I . . . oh, sorry." Mark said, coming in the door. "I ā Addison, are you okay?" She nodded as he observed her smeared mascara and tearstained cheeks. He did not miss the looks on the Chief's and Adele's faces, nor her expression. She could tell he was suspicious, and the wheels in his brain were turning. He was smart, he wasn't a surgeon for nothing, and although men were often dumb about such things, Addison knew he was going to figure it out before too long. He could always tell stuff about her. "Okay, sorry to interrupt."
He started to leave, but Addison said, "It's okay, Mark. I've got patients to check on anyway. I'll go." She noticed the Chief was giving Mark a stern look. She almost laughed at his nonverbal scolding for possibly knocking her up. Mark was clearly trying to figure out what he'd done wrong. She knew he'd been much better with the interns lately, and she hadn't heard of any rumors about him and nurses, or him and anyone else, so his slightly wounded look was hilarious.
After leaving Richard's office Addison ran into Izzie Stevens. "Hey, Stevens."
"Hey, Dr. Montgomery. Dr. Burke needs you for a consult. We've got a pregnant woman with a heard condition."
"Okay, let's go." As Addison walked beside Izzie, she noticed that she kept stealing glances at her.
Finally Izzie couldn't contain herself any longer. "So, the tests?"
"All positive. I got a blood test too. I really am having a baby."
Izzie smiled. "Congratulations, Dr. Montgomery. Seriously, that's great." Addison could tell Izzie was dying to ask about the paternity, but restrained herself. "You're going to be a great mom."
"Thank you," said Addison, touched. They had finally reached the room.
"Addison. Thanks for coming. This is Linda." Preston said when she walked in the room.
Addison finished the consult within a few minutes. She wanted to go talk to Callie and call Savvy and tell her she was coming to New York. But Burke stopped her.
"I hear you're moving back here."
She waited for him to say something about LA, but he didn't. "Yeah, I am. I missed Seattle more than I thought I was going to, I guess." She felt suddenly nauseous, and put her hand over her mouth and one on her stomach.
"Addison, are you okay?" Preston asked, concerned. She nodded. "Well, I can't wait to have you back here." His pager went off and he patted her shoulder before walking away.
Addison waited until she felt a little better and then made her way to an on-call room. She called Savvy and told her she was coming in a few weeks, and that she had a surprise. Savvy was excited and couldn't wait to tell Weiss she was coming. Addison asked if Archer was back yet, wanting to tell her brother, but Savvy said he was still in Europe. She sighed.
After hanging up with Savvy, Addison decided to take a nap. She rested with her hand on her belly, rubbing it gently.
She knew that through all the panic about the pregnancy and the father that she was unbearably excited. But all the baby had heard was her worries and her doubts.
"Um, hey, baby. It's your mommy. I just wanted to tell you that I love you, no matter who your daddy is. It doesn't matter, because either way, you will probably be the most beautiful baby ever. And you will have excellent hair. So, yeah. I love you."
Addison closed her eyes and drifted off with her hand still over the baby.
After her nap, Addison felt extremely hungry, so she bought some candy bars to curb her chocolate craving. She started eating them in a conference room, too hungry to walk down the cafeteria. She had her mouth full of Snickers when Meredith, Cristina, and an intern she didn't know walked in. They all gave her weird looks when they saw all of her candy, and Addison blushed slightly.
"Dr. Montgomery." Cristina said, and Meredith nodded at her.
"Hi," the intern said. "I'm Lexie Grey."
"Nice to meet you, Dr. Grey." Addison said politely, and Lexie smiled. Addison noticed Cristina and Meredith shaking their heads behind her back. Addison smirked slightly when she realized Lexie had no idea who she was.
"So, Lexie, how are you liking Seattle Grace?" Addison asked. The looks on Meredith and Cristina's faces were so worth it.
"I really like it here. I grew up in Seattle." Lexie told her, smiling.
"Really? So you must be used to the rain. I could never really get used to it. I'm going to miss LA, it was usually sunny there." Addison tried hard to keep herself from laughing. She was carrying on a friendly conversation with the sister of her ex-husband's girlfriend, whose love-child she was possibly carrying. It sounded like a soap opera. But Lexie was really nice, and it was cracking her up seeing the frustrated expressions of the two residents. She could act like Satan once in a while if she wanted to.
"Oh, Dr. Montgomery, are you coming back to Seattle?" Lexie asked, not really waiting for an answer. "I am so looking forward to working with you; everyone says you're the best."
"Well, I could probably get you in on some cases, Grey. But actually I'm not moving here yet. I have some things to take care of somewhere else."
Lexie had barely opened her mouth when Mark walked in. "Hey, Addison. Hey, Little Grey."
Lexie raised her eyebrows. "Addison? As in Addison Shepherd?" she asked. She had heard of the famous Dr. Montomgery and the infamous Addison Shepherd; she just hadn't realized they were the same person.
"Yep," said Addison. Her pager went off at the perfect time. "Later, Mark, Yang, Grey and Grey." She heard laughter behind her and turned to see that Mark had followed her out.
"Maybe you really are Satan. At least sometimes."
She grinned. He just had to say that. She leaned into him, putting her lips to his ear. "Maybe," she breathed, and Mark swore. She walked off, still chuckling.
"Lexie! What were you doing talking to Satan?" Meredith asked.
"Yeah, Two, what is your problem?" Cristina added.
"Satan? You guys call her Satan? She's really nice."
"Hello? She stole Derek from Meredith. She is the adulterous bitch from New York who was married to your sister's boyfriend."
"I know, but Meredith and Derek are together now, and Derek did cheat on her too, so I just thought . . ." Lexie trailed off, seeing Cristina and Meredith's glares.
"Seriously though, she's acting weird. What was up with all that candy? And what 'things' does she have to take care of before she comes here?" Cristina went on, pretending Lexie hadn't spoken.
Izzie walked in and sat next to Meredith. "Who are you guys talking about?"
"Addison." Meredith said. "Apparently she's coming back for good. And she's acting strange."
"Oh, yeah, I heard she was coming back. That's cool." Izzie said nervously.
"You know something." Cristina accused.
"I'm hungry," Izzie said, and opened her salad.
Mark sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Addison was nowhere to be found. He hadn't seen her since they'd come out of the conference room together and he had interrogated the last seven nurses and a scared looking intern whose name he still didn't know and probably never would. He had noticed Addison was having a bad day and so he had bought some chocolates for her. He had heard from Derek who heard from Alex who heard from Cristina who heard from Lexie that Addison was back to stay. He knew something was up, though, and he couldn't put his finger on it. Why would she be being crying in front of the Chief and Adele?
Finally he spotted a flash of red hair. "Addison!" he called.
"Mark." She paused, smiling at him.
He held out the chocolates with a grin. "Here. I wasn't sure if you'd had enough candy yet."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "Hey, I was hungry. But thanks, these are much better than what you can get out of the vending machine."
"Good. Addison, are you okay?" he asked. Gently he reached out to touch her cheek where the bruise had been. It was invisible now, completely healed, but he thought could still see a faint mark.
"I'm fine," she insisted, not meeting his eyes.
"We both know that's bullshit, Addison. We're friends. Best friends. You can tell me."
She opened her mouth, hesitating. "I'm pā I can't. I'm sorry, Mark. I have to go."
